ZC 57

3 bedrooms, sleeps 6

In one of Spain's most beautiful corners

A simple, unpretentious holiday home in a wonderful setting above the lake at Zahara, a lovely spot on the edge of the Grazalema National Park ...

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"The property we rented for 10 days ZC57 was perfect for us. We wanted a quiet secluded place to just spend quality time with our family away from
busy resorts. You need a car to get to this property but that was no problem for us - we enjoyed having it to travel to the local towns. The kids loved
having their own pool and the rustic decor of the house itself was beautiful. We especially loved the little space we called our "reading nook" upstairs
where it was beautiful to open the windows in the morning and take in the views and enjoy a coffee. The views from the property are spectacular. We truly loved
our holiday, the peace and quiet, the beautiful pool and garden and we even had a pet cat and kittens! We hope to return next year. Thank you Rustic"

Helena (Jul 2018)

Bedrooms

Three (two doubles, one twin bedded).

Pool

Private swimming pool

8 m x 4 m, 0.9 - 1.8 m deep.

Location

In open countryside, 2 km from Zahara de la Sierra in Los Pueblos Blancos region (Province of Cádiz).

Price

Stunning

Up in the hills, some two kilometres from the village of Zahara de la Sierra, this is a lovely part of the fabulous Grazalema National Park

The striking characteristic of this recently built holiday home is its stunning setting above the lake at Zahara.

Up in the hills, some two kilometres from the village of Zahara de la Sierra, one of the most attractive of all the pueblos blancos, this is a lovely part of the fabulous Grazalema National Park. Access from the Ronda to Sevilla road is quick and easy.

From Zahara a fabulous little road winds spectacularly over the mountains to Grazalema with sensational views over the lake far below. It's one of the most satisfying mountain roads to travel on anywhere in Spain; bend after bend, higher and higher, into the richly forested, rocky terrain. And always with the azure-blue lake far down below you.

Before it really starts to climb, just a short way out of the village (2 km), a farm track (in good condition) leads down the mountain slopes from the road to this property which is approached from the rear.

A tremendous panorama

The grounds, pool and gardens enjoy the magnificent views down the valley and across the azure-blue waters of the lake below.

On the terrace immediately above the villa there is some rather unattractive "under-plastic" vegetable farming, some of the plastic a bit tattered after winter rains when we visited recently.

But it's at the back of the house, it doesn't cover a very big area, and apart from when you are entering or leaving the property it's our view that you will not even notice it (it is almost completely hidden from view from the rear windows, behind vines and other foliage which grows down the bank).

The house and its grounds, pool and gardens all face in the opposite direction, taking advantage of the magnificent views down the valley and across the azure-blue waters of the lake below, the mountains rising up again on the other side.

It's a tremendous panorama. There is plenty of room for children to play, there are swings and a gated swimming pool area.

Roaming free

20 or so free range chickens roam happily on the land below and to the side of the pool terrace. This is authentic, working farmland.

The house is set apart from neighbours, nice and quiet - apart, possibly, for the chickens … there are about 20 of them roaming happily, free-range, on the land below and to the side of the pool terrace.

Children are always happy to see them and they can, if they wish, go each evening with the owners mother to collect the eggs! But the cockerel does wake up pretty early in the mornings … for some this may be an inconvenience.

For others, all part of the delight of being in the midst of authentic, working farmland in one of the most beautiful parts of Andalucía. The owners, a local Spanish family, will from time to time bring fresh produce from their fruit and vegetable gardens for guests to enjoy.

The swimming pool is flanked by a newly planted garden and has night lighting, as does the private parking area.

Local Spanish style

Farm implements and a dramatic wild boar's head adorn the walls under lofty wooden and beamed ceilings.

The house is on two floors, with the living / dining room and recently equipped kitchen downstairs, along with two of the three bedrooms.

Upstairs, the double bedroom has a half open-plan design, partially open to and overlooking the lounge below. It leads round to a comfortable sofa placed by a window to take advantage of the views.

Although the house is of recent construction, it's a design which reflect local tradition, especially the wooden and beamed ceilings in all rooms, even the bathrooms. Other examples are the grand open fireplace with its log mantelpiece, farm implements and a dramatic wild boar's head which adorn the walls.

It's very much the local Spanish style; many like it ("we had a fantastic holiday and the villa was super", said one client); for others it's not quite their cup of tea. Please note that, in common with most locally owned properties, there is no oven (they have no part in traditional Spanish cuisine) but there is a hob and a microwave.

A pastoral corner

Zahara de la Sierra is a delightful old-time village, one of the famous pueblos blancos in this very beautiful part of Andalucía.

Zahara de la Sierra is a delightful old-time village, one of the famous pueblos blancos in this very beautiful part of Andalucía.

Built on the slopes of the Grazalema mountain range, which rise spectacularly on all sides of the lake, its Moorish castle perched on a craggy outcrop at the very top, its a classic situation and a lovely place to enjoy a tapa or two or an authentic local meal. We haven't tried it ourselves (yet) but our spies in the area are sending rave reviews of restaurant 'Al Lago' which is just below the village.

From here it's easy to travel to Ronda, Arcos de la Frontera and Grazalema itself, all interesting, attractive towns surrounded by magnificent scenery.

All in all, a good value, simple, unpretentious family holiday home, good for kids with its fenced pool and plenty of room to play in the garden. And, best of all, it's in one of Spain's most delightful pastoral corners.

Villa Details

The Villa in Detail

All the facts and features about this villa

Distribution

Ground floor

Open-plan living / dining room

Kitchen

2 bedrooms :

1 double

1 twin bedded

Bathroom (shower only, no bath tub)

Terrace (furnished) and fenced gardens

First Floor

1 double bedroom which is semi-open plan, with sitting area and en-suite bathroom (shower only)

Facilities

Entertainment

Spanish TV

DVD

Amenities

Open fireplace in the living room

3 Electric Radiators

2 Portable Fans

Washing Machine, Iron & board

All linen is provided (including pool towels)

Cot & highchair available (on request). Cot linen is not supplied

Kitchen

Gas / electric hob (4 rings)

Microwave

Fridge / freezer

Dishwasher

Toaster, Juicer, Kettle, Coffee pot

Cooking utensils, Cutlery, Crockery

Please note that there is no oven

Outdoors

Fenced and gated filtered swimming pool (8 m x 4 m, 0.9 - 1.8 m deep)

Pool terrace

Pool shower

Sun beds

Basic outdoor dining and garden furniture

Barbecue (brick)

Swing

Garden and grounds

Parking

Notes

Weather permitting, the swimming pool will be open throughout the year (although, because it's not heated, the normal swimming season is from late April to September, inclusive)

Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday although start and finish dates can be more flexible out of high season

There are about 20 chickens roaming happily, free-range, on the land below and to the side of the pool terrace. But the cockerel does wake up pretty early in the mornings … for some this may be an inconvenience.

ZC 57

2020 Season Dates

Week

Fortnight

Prices Pending

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Security Deposit

A 250 Euro security deposit is required on each booking. This is held against your credit or debit card and will be cancelled one week after your holiday, subject to any reductions for breakages or damage. See Terms and Conditions for full details.

Nearest Airports

See our Links Page for web sites of airlines traveling to Andalucia from the UK.

Around and About

This is an excellent base from which to explore this delightful and very beautiful part of Andalucía.

Excursions

For trips out, you are spoilt for choice. Hemingway's favourite town in all Spain, Ronda, with its extraordinary gorge dividing the old and new quarters, is half an hour away. With its mansion houses, quaint narrow streets, museums and art galleries and Spain's oldest bullring, it is well worth visiting.

Here you are in the Grazalema National Park, one of the most beautiful tracks of mountain anywhere in Europe. Jagged peaks, gorges, chasms, faults and caves, underground rivers and deep canyons are interspersed, here and there, by some of the prettiest villages in Spain - Grazalema, Zahara, Setenil and the other famous "pueblos blancos".

Houses are meticulously whitewashed to a state of pristine splendour, a dazzling contrast to the brightly coloured flowers which fill the streets and the ochres of their rocky mountain perches. Beautiful villages which demand you to slow down a pace or two.

Take the dramatic little mountain road from Zahara which climbs high into the mountains and on to Grazalema. From here you can head west, crossing right over the magnificent sierras, thickly forested with cork oak and Spanish fir, to Arcos de la Frontera on the other side.

A visit to La Cueva de la Pileta cave to see its 25,000 year old troglodyte paintings is another must.

On the wide, blue waters of the Embalse de Zahara (it's a reservoir but you would never know), you can swim or just enjoy the beautiful views all around from one of the little bars which open up in summer on the lake shore.

For something completely different, Sevilla takes 1½ hours. It is impossible not to be captivated by its exuberant atmosphere: stylish, confident, ancient and proud, yet also convivial, intimate and fun-loving. If you don't know what alegría means, Sevilla is the place to learn!

Spain's unique sherry wine region (Jerez and Sanlúcar), is well worth a visit, enhanced no doubt by stopping at one or two of the famous bodegas along the way! Jerez de la Frontera is 1½ hours.

Cádiz (1¾ hours) continues to evoke the romance, intrigue and mystery of centuries of trade (some legal, some not so) between Europe, Africa and the Americas.

Activities

There are few better places in Europe than the Sierra de Grazalema to enjoy walking and hiking. We recommend "Walking in Andalucía" by Guy Hunter-Watts which includes six fabulous walks in the nearby countryside. The wonderful mountain terrain is equally facinating for twitchers, especially for spotting the big raptors.

The adventurous may want to try their hand at hang gliding or paragliding from Sierra de Lijar, just up the road at Algodonales. The village recently staged the World Paragliding Championships and is home to a number of paragliding schools with courses for beginners as well as tandem flights.

Horse trekking into the high sierra can be arranged at local stables.

Bicycle hire is easily arranged in Ronda. There are excellent cycle ways in the area including the Via Verde which runs along an abandoned railway line as well as far more challenging tracks for mountain biking.

Different water sports are on offer on the Zahara lake. Swimming is also possible at a number of secluded coves along the lakeside.

There is no more thrilling way of viewing the Ronda mountains than from a balloon. End your once-in-a-lifetime flight with a champagne breakfast overlooking Ronda’s old town.

The Area

Los Pueblos Blancos

Known in Spain as Los Pueblos Blancos, these classic white villages set in dramatic landscapes are some of Andalucía's most beautiful … Read more

Zahara de la Sierra

Overlooking the azure-blue waters of the vast Embalse below, Zahara is one of the most spectacularly situated villages in Spain … Read more